Money politics ruin legislative process<\/p>\n
By Pandaya<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Allegations that members of the House of
\nRepresentatives are taking grease money to push through
\nlegislation has again highlighted the role money plays in law
\nmaking in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In a hearing with Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, member
\nHadi Sutrisno of the Armed Forces faction made a startling,
\nalthough by no means new, revelation.<\/p>\n
Sutrisno said it is no secret that legislators jostle to fight
\ntheir way onto committees that deliberate bills whose sponsors
\nare likely to offer a lot of money to see them passed into law in
\ntheir favor.<\/p>\n
These \"rich bills\" are usually sponsored by government
\nministries that run companies and have direct business interests
\nin the legislation. Debates take place in lavish hotels and the
\nlawmakers involved not only enjoy the plush facilities, they also
\ngo home with their pockets full.<\/p>\n
The bill on customs and excise, for example, which was enacted
\nlast year, was finalized after three weeks of deliberations at
\nthe Horison Hotel at Ancol Dreamland seaside resort in north
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Some legislators dub such bills \"conglomerates' bills\" because
\nthe money for the legislators can be as much as Rp 10 million
\neach.<\/p>\n
There are also \"poor bills\", which involve little money. In
\nthis category are those concerning the formation of a
\nmunicipality or the adoption of an international convention.<\/p>\n
Such bills are also dubbed RUU Pak Ogah, named after a
\npoverty-stricken character from a popular local TV puppet show,
\nbecause legislators usually debate them with dampened spirits.<\/p>\n
A member of Commission II, who recently took part in the
\ndeliberation of a bill on the formation of a municipality, said
\nhe received a total of Rp 500,000 in transport allowances and Rp
\n700,000 in regular allowances.<\/p>\n
The deliberations are usually held at the commission's regular
\nconference room at the House premises, where the legislative
\nbody's secretary general hands out Rp 750,000 from the state
\nbudget to each commission member.<\/p>\n
Sutrisno, a member of Commission II, which overseas domestic
\npolitical affairs and deals only with \"poor bills\", questions the
\nfinancial sources for the deliberation of the rich bills.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said he was surprised to hear the disclosure about
\nthe role of money in law-making. He suggested the commission
\nchecks on the sources with relevant ministers.<\/p>\n
Sutrisno's revelation has embarrassed many legislators. They
\nduck for cover whenever the issue is raised.<\/p>\n
A senior House member, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
\ntold The Jakarta Post that he was dismayed by the rampant
\ncorruption among his colleagues.<\/p>\n
\"Taking bribes for the passage of a bill in favor of the
\nsponsor is only the tip of the iceberg,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that members of Commission VI, for banking and mining,
\nhave frequently gone on foreign holidays at state-owned
\ncompanies' expense.<\/p>\n
\"Very recently, many visited several countries, including
\nJapan and the U.S. for unclear purposes under a state-owned
\ncompany's sponsorship,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Members of Commission X, for environment, research and
\ntechnology, have also traveled abroad for dubious purposes under
\nthe sponsorship of the office of the State Ministry of Research
\nand Technology, according to the source.<\/p>\n
House members from the Golkar faction have established a golf
\nclub and seek sponsorship from various private sources and state-
\nrun companies.<\/p>\n
Legislator A.A. Oka Mahendra, also from Commission II, is
\namong the few House members willing to admit that the
\ndeliberation of bills needs extra money for smooth passage.<\/p>\n
\"The huge sum of money from dubious sources will sooner or
\nlater tarnish the House's image,\" he warned. \"It encourages
\nunhealthy rivalry among House members who want to get the money
\ninstead of contributing ideas in the law-making process.\"<\/p>\n
Oka, who represents the dominant ruling Golkar faction, argues
\nthat the government should not lure legislators with money.<\/p>\n
\"It would be dangerous if the money becomes committal for then
\nlawmakers would be forced to comply with whatever the government
\nwishes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Golkar faction Moestahid Astari has pledged to
\nlook into the bill sponsorship row.<\/p>\n
A similar scandal hit the House in 1991 when legislator
\nHussein Naro of the United Development Party said he knew of a
\nconglomerate who offered Rp 1 billion to push through the banking
\nbill.<\/p>\n
The truth in Hussein's claim was never investigated but it
\nprompted the then House speaker M. Kharis Suhud to propose the
\nformation of an honorary council in charge of formulating a code
\nof ethics for House members.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/money-politics-ruin-legislative-process-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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